Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
